Portland Co.'s $12M marina expansion gets initial OK

The five-member Portland Harbor Commissioners board gave initial approval to CPB2 LLC's plans to double the size of the marina as part of its redevelopment of the 10-acre Portland Co. property on the city's eastern waterfront.

The Portland Press Herald reported that CPB2 expects to invest $12 million to create a "world-class marina" at 58 Fore St., doubling the number of slips from 69 to 141 and including docking space for yachts of 125 feet or larger.

The company's application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers states the proposed facility would consist of a "line of floats running parallel to shore with four float systems attached perpendicular to the southeast with associated finger float systems" and would include additional wave protection structures. All floats would be bottom-moored and would be connected to the marina by ramps extending from the shore.

The Army Corps has set an Aug. 10 deadline to receive public comments on the marina expansion.

The marina project also needs approval from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Portland Planning Board, the Press Herald reported.

CPB2 Manager Casey Prentice told the newspaper that if those approvals are granted, construction of the expanded marina could begin as early as this winter and be completed by next summer, the newspaper reported.